Downtown Tree Festival to Benefit People’s City Mission

Click to see the Event’s Facebook Page

The Haymarket is quite a sight during the holidays. Storefronts are decorated with garlands and holiday trinkets, the antiquated buildings emanate that wispy white steam from their rooftops and couples walking down the sidewalk hold each other close to try and squeeze out the cold. For many of us, this time of year is about family, pajamas and hot cocoa by the fire, but to others it’s a time to put those in need first.

Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket District will play host to The Starry Nights Christmas Tree Festival, an event benefiting the People’s City Mission that will take place December 1-4 at the Lincoln Station Great Hall on 7th and P Streets. The event consists of a festival open to the public on Thursday and Friday (4-8pm) and Saturday (9-6pm), and a formal Gala on Sunday (5-8pm).

The Festival will feature a variety of family-friendly activities for guests to enjoy including pictures with Santa, caroling and other live entertainment. Children will be able to take part in the three creation stations that include ornament decoration, coloring and letters to Santa. Attendees can enjoy hot beverages and other free concessions as they peruse the 18 professionally designed Christmas trees that were each decorated with $750 worth of lights and decorations and portray traditional holiday themes.

A few of the tree entrants include “Husker Nation” by Sarah Talbot & Kurt Ahlemeyer and sponsored by First National Bank, “A Winter Wonderland on the Plains” by Lisza Coffey and sponsored by Sandhills Publishing and “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Cupcakes & More and sponsored by Raising Canes.

Guests will vote on their top ten favorite trees during the Festival, and the top ten trees chosen overall will be placed on the live auction at the Gala on Sunday night. The winning will receive the People’s Choice Award. The remaining trees will then be placed on silent auction at the Gala.

Throughout the Festival there will be holiday entertainment provided by acts such as the Lincoln Boys Choir, the Southeast High School Choir, The 211 Band from Christ Lutheran Church and the Studio 2 dance troupe.

Youngsters will be excited to hear that there will be Breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning from 8:00 am to 11:00am. This special breakfast will take place inside the Candy Factory at 800 P Street (P Street Entrance next to Lazlo’s).

Tickets to the Festival are $5 for adults, $3 for kids (4-11) and FREE for children ages 3 and under. Admission to the Breakfast with Santa and the Festival is $9 for adults, $7 for Kids and FREE for children ages 3 and under. ($6 for breakfast only)

Taking place on Sunday is the Starry Nights Gala, a formal Christmas celebration where guests will enjoy an elegant meal and refreshments as they listen to holiday music from Preeminent Entertainment DJ services. The tree designers, who’ve each been sponsored by a business or local organization, will be stationed at their trees to explain their theme and why they chose to use what they did. The Gala also consists of a live and silent auction where the festival trees will be auctioned off among other holiday items throughout the evening. Among some of the silent auction items is a Lincoln Salt Dogs game package, a free night’s stay at Embassy Suites, a hot stone massage and several gift card packages.

Tickets to the Gala are $55 which includes dinner consisting of Bruschetta chicken, braised beef tips, mash potatoes & vegetables as well as a chocolate fountain with fruit dippers, cheesecake squares and dessert petit fours. 

The People’s City Mission is currently looking for volunteers to help out with the event. Those interested can contact Stacey at 402.817.0818 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.
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For more information on the event, visit http://www.starrynightslincoln.org

To buy Festival tickets, click here:
To buy Gala tickets, click here:

Ticket Locations:
• People’s City Mission: Buy Online
• DLA Office (13th & N)
• Burlington Antiques
• Buzzard Billy’s
• Brewsky’s in the Haymarket
• From Nebraska
• The Mill
• Or call the Haymarket office at 402 435-7496

Daily Breakdown:

Thursday-
4:00-8:00 p.m. Free pictures with Santa, Children’s Workshop, and concessions
5:00-5:30 p.m. Lincoln Boys Choir performs

Friday-
4:00-8:00 p.m. Free pictures with Santa, Children’s Workshop, and concessions
5:30-6:30 p.m.- Southeast High School choirs perform
7:30-8:00 p.m.- Christ Lutheran Church’s 211 Band performs

Saturday-
8:00-11:00 a.m.- Breakfast with Santa at the Candy Factory Atrium
9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.- Starry Nights Festival open with Children’s Workshop, and concessions
11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Free pictures with Santa, Children’s Workshop, and concessions
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.- Studio 2 dance troupe performs

Sunday-
Gala:
Check-in and silent auction open at 5:00 p.m.
Dinner and entertainment at 5:30 p.m.
Starry Nights Tree viewing at 6:00 p.m.
Live Auction at 6:30 p.m.
Checkout at 7:45 p.m.
Event ends at 8:00 p.m.

Tree designers include Audrey Stone, Blooms & Bouquets, Cupcakes & More, Coffey & Co., Design Associates, Design Works Interior Design Group, Expressions by Connie, Fleur Boutique, Home Depot, Jess Kuhl, Lee Douglas Interiors, Petal Creations, Oak Creek Nursery, R. Michael Art, Sutter Place Interiors, and Thought District.